Did Jesus say he was God???

[javajo]

As for "roles", it appears you are taking on a Modalistic theology, not a Trinitarian one. Perhaps you'd like to join the Oneness Pentecostals if this is your Theology?

Maybe I worded it wrong then, as I believe firmly in the Trinity and am absolutely not pentecostal.

And even then, you contradict your own argument by saying that the human Father and Son are still humans though both are "god", as this would mean they are both "gods" (and hence agreeing with our interpretation of John 1:1's anarthrous Theos).

Let me re-phrase that, they are both still human. They are both of the same family with the same family name. I do not believe they are gods as there is only one God which is why we baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost who are the three persons of the tri-une God.

And no, there has been NO good defenses on this post whatsoever, perhaps you can find one and link to it that you feel is a "good defense".

That's okay, I have already seen your responses. I simply will say I believe God is love and in his love for us he took on human form and paid the penalty of sin which is death by dying for us so all who simply trust him for that are freely and forever saved to the uttermost. When we do that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ and indwells, seals and gifts us so that we have God living in us and through us.

If one believes they can earn salvation by their own self-righteous efforts they must repent and trust in Christ's finished work on the cross to have paid their sin-debt. That is the Bible truth.

 

[javajo]

Most of that made pretty much no sense.
Sorry.

Read it again then. It takes some thinking and studying to understand. The man was asking what HE must DO to earn eternal life. He thought he had kept the commandments but had not as he broke the tenth commandment, "Thou shalt not covet" as he would not sell all his goods and follow Jesus as he was very rich. Jesus tried to show him he needed a Savior as he had not kept the Law perfectly and as James says that if you break one you are guilty of all.

Jesus IS good as he is God and the sinless sacrifice that paid the penalty of our sins (the penalty of sin is death) by dying on the cross that whoever trusts him as Savior is freely given eternal life. We trust in what Christ did for the free gift of salvation, not in what we do to try to earn salvation. This glorifies him instead of us, but many want to boast and get the glory from Christ and saying he is not God is part of it. The Bible says:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2

 

[Bob Dixon]

Read it again then. It takes some thinking and studying to understand. The man was asking what HE must DO to earn eternal life. He thought he had kept the commandments but had not as he broke the tenth commandment, "Thou shalt not covet" as he would not sell all his goods and follow Jesus as he was very rich. Jesus tried to show him he needed a Savior as he had not kept the Law perfectly and as James says that if you break one you are guilty of all.

Jesus IS good as he is God and the sinless sacrifice that paid the penalty of our sins (the penalty of sin is death) by dying on the cross that whoever trusts him as Savior is freely given eternal life. We trust in what Christ did for the free gift of salvation, not in what we do to try to earn salvation. This glorifies him instead of us, but many want to boast and get the glory from Christ and saying he is not God is part of it. The Bible says:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2

Firstly, "the commandments" are Jewish law. They're not restricted to the "tenth commandment" or whatever. They are 613. This is cannon.

Secondly, if Jesus is "good as he is God" tell me again why he would say, "don't call me good; only God is good". I didn't really get your previous explanation.

Thirdly, I want to get no glory from Christ, just as Christ wants to get no glory from God. And besides, there is no prophecy made by any of the HB prophets that, when the Christ came, he'd be God Incarnate! What do you make of that?

Fourthly, I get that "lest any man should boast" part, but works are still necessary. James proved it cleverly and rather humorously, comparing faith without works to seeing a cold, hungry guy and only saying, "be warm and go in peace". Faith without works is dead.

 

[outhouse]

what people are forgetting besides yeshua never calling himself god.

Is that even if he proclaimed he was the sonof god, that was normal for mortal men in that time to be called in fact a son of god. completely normal for that period.

yeshua was not attributed with the same divinity as Yahweh until Constantine out his foot down hundreds of year after he was dead.

 

[Shermana]

Maybe I worded it wrong then, as I believe firmly in the Trinity and am absolutely not pentecostal.

If you think Jesus was a "Form" of the same being as G-d, you are modalist.

Let me re-phrase that, they are both still human. They are both of the same family with the same family name. I do not believe they are gods as there is only one God which is why we baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost who are the three persons of the tri-une God.

If your analogy is for a human father and son both being "human", then they would be "humans". Thus, for the Divine Father and Divine son both being "god" means they are "gods". I have shown repeatedly that the Bible refers to beings known as "gods". Jesus even calls the Israelites "gods". John 1:1 uses an anarthrous Theos for "And the word was a god". The Angels are called "gods", as Elohim is translated as "angels" in Psalms 8:5 and other places in the Septuagint for example.

That's okay, I have already seen your responses.

Good. So that's a refusal to find a "good post that defends the Trinity" on this entire thread. As I said, there is NO good post on this thread whatsoever.

I simply will say I believe God is love and in his love for us he took on human form and paid the penalty of sin which is death by dying for us so all who simply trust him for that are freely and forever saved to the uttermost. When we do that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ and indwells, seals and gifts us so that we have God living in us and through us.

That's nice, but goes against what the text says for the most part.

If one believes they can earn salvation by their own self-righteous efforts they must repent and trust in Christ's finished work on the cross to have paid their sin-debt. That is the Bible truth.

The Bible truth is that Jesus says you must "Strive for the narrow gate" and avoid doing anything that will cause you to go to hell, and James says that it is BY works that one is justified. BY = due to/because of. The Bible truth is that Jesus says the Lawless will be rejected, and the Lukewarm will be spat out. Your version of "bible truth" ignores 99% of the text.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Jesus IS good as he is God and the sinless sacrifice that paid the penalty of our sins (the penalty of sin is death) by dying on the cross that whoever trusts him as Savior is freely given eternal life. We trust in what Christ did for the free gift of salvation, not in what we do to try to earn salvation. This glorifies him instead of us, but many want to boast and get the glory from Christ and saying he is not God is part of it. The Bible says:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith (in Christ); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2

For the Bible says:
Why call Jesus good when there is none good but one that is: God [YHWH]-
-Mark 10v18

For the Bible says:
Jesus is the beginning of the creation by God.
-Rev 3v14 B

 

[javajo]

Firstly, "the commandments" are Jewish law. They're not restricted to the "tenth commandment" or whatever. They are 613. This is cannon.

They were discussing the 10 commandments: Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. (passage from the conversation in Luke 18)

Secondly, if Jesus is "good as he is God" tell me again why he would say, "don't call me good; only God is good". I didn't really get your previous explanation.

He didn't say, "don't call me good", he asked, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Now, we know Jesus WAS good from many passages like: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21,and Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19

Thirdly, I want to get no glory from Christ, just as Christ wants to get no glory from God.

Good. Jesus did and does have glory as the Father does: Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17:24

And besides, there is no prophecy made by any of the HB prophets that, when the Christ came, he'd be God Incarnate! What do you make of that?

You may argue all you want about this verse but it is just one of many: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Fourthly, I get that "lest any man should boast" part, but works are still necessary. James proved it cleverly and rather humorously, comparing faith without works to seeing a cold, hungry guy and only saying, "be warm and go in peace". Faith without works is dead.

We are saved by faith and not works as the verse says, however we are saved to do good works (not by dead works) as verse 10 tells us:
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph.2

and Titus 3 tells us:

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, and they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.

So we are freely saved by faith in Christ and good works will follow as a result of and not a condition of our salvation.

If you think Jesus was a "Form" of the same being as G-d, you are modalist.

I believe Jesus is God and am a Trinitarian.

If your analogy is for a human father and son both being "human", then they would be "humans". Thus, for the Divine Father and Divine son both being "god" means they are "gods". I have shown repeatedly that the Bible refers to beings known as "gods". Jesus even calls the Israelites "gods". John 1:1 uses an anarthrous Theos for "And the word was a god". The Angels are called "gods", as Elohim is translated as "angels" in Psalms 8:5 and other places in the Septuagint for example.

Human as in, "we are all human" as in our nature. I believe the Father and the Son are 2 of the persons of the one true God. There is no 'a' in greek and it actually is, "and the God was Word", or as rightly translated, "and the Word was God." I think we have gone round and round with this.

Good. So that's a refusal to find a "good post that defends the Trinity" on this entire thread.

Nah, waste of time, we been through them.

As I said, there is NO good post on this thread whatsoever.

Not even yours?

That's nice, but goes against what the text says for the most part.

The text says exactly what I said. I said: I simply will say I believe God is love (see 1 John)and in his love for us see Mathew) and paid the penalty of sin which is death (see Romans 6:23), by dying for us(see 2 Cor. 5:21) so all who simply trust him(see Eph. 2:8-9) for that are freely(multiple passages) and forever(its eternal life, many passages) saved to the uttermost(see Heb. 7:25). When we do that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ( 1 Cor. 12:13) and seals, indwells and gifts us (must I?) so that we have God living in us and through us.

The Bible truth is that Jesus says you must "Strive for the narrow gate" and avoid doing anything that will cause you to go to hell, and James says that it is BY works that one is justified. BY = due to/because of. The Bible truth is that Jesus says the Lawless will be rejected, and the Lukewarm will be spat out. Your version of "bible truth" ignores 99% of the text.

Jesus is the narrow gate and we believe in him. You may use James all you want, but you are ignoring or don't believe the rest of the text yourself. James taught Abraham was saved by his faith and his works showed he had the faith. Works always come as a result not a condition of salvation. If we trusted Christ we will love God and others and so keep the law. The lukewarm will be of no use in the Kingdom and will be as castaways as far as that goes. Jesus said all who come to him I will in no wise cast out. But I've argued with you about all that before, and I'm gonna go now. Trust in Christ not in your own self-righteousness. Peace.

 

[javajo]

For the Bible says:
Why call Jesus good when there is none good but one that is: God [YHWH]-
-Mark 10v18

For the Bible says:
Jesus is the beginning of the creation by God.
-Rev 3v14 B

Use those verses to say Jesus is not sinless and not God, but you are greatly twisting them, friend.

 

[Shermana]

So we are freely saved by faith in Christ and good works will follow as a result of and not a condition of our salvation.

Titus and Ephesians are not only considered spurious by nearly all biblical scholars, they directly clash with James.

I believe Jesus is God and am a Trinitarian.
Human as in, "we are all human" as in our nature. I believe the Father and the Son are 2 of the persons of the one true God. There is no 'a' in greek and it actually is, "and the God was Word", or as rightly translated, "and the Word was God." I think we have gone round and round with this.

There is no 'a" in Greek, but the concept is implied. Otherwise, take out all the a's in your translation and see how that looks. Why do you suppose there are any a's to begin with then? You simply don't understand how the Anarthrous works. Examine Acts 12:22, which uses the same Anarthrous Theos. We have gone round and round with this, and have proved it many times that it should read, the word was "a god".

They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."

As you can see, an anarthrous Theos means "A god".

Nah, waste of time, we been through them.

Why is it a waste of time exactly? You make a claim, back your claim. It's not a waste of time to back your claim. Maybe to a Trinitarian it is.

Not even yours?

Either this comment is purely in jest or you prove you have no concern for context of a person's quote, this is an example of how context applies to a Trinitarian.

The text says exactly what I said. I said: I simply will say I believe God is love (see 1 John)and in his love for us see Mathew) and paid the penalty of sin which is death (see Romans 6:23), by dying for us(see 2 Cor. 5:21) so all who simply trust him(see Eph. 2:8-9) for that are freely(multiple passages) and forever(its eternal life, many passages) saved to the uttermost(see Heb. 7:25). When we do that the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the body of Christ( 1 Cor. 12:13) and seals, indwells and gifts us (must I?) so that we have God living in us and through us.

So like I said, your view completely ignores pretty much everything Jesus taught as well as James and Jude and proves my case that Paul clashes with them, and your view also uses spurious books like Ephesians.

Jesus is the narrow gate and we believe in him.

That's not what Jesus meant if you actually read the verse of the whole passage. How do you "strive" by "believing" exactly? You'd be ignoring pretty much all that Jesus teaches about how to act and why it matters.

You may use James all you want, but you are ignoring or don't believe the rest of the text yourself.

You're right, I do ignore what PAUL teaches, but you ignore all the vast swaths of what Jesus himself teaches. You use nothing BUT Paul to base your beliefs on, and James clearly says that a "man is justified BY works'. There's no way you can possibly interpret that to mean that works are a result of being saved, he is clearly saying that one is justified BY, key word BY their works. Simple.

James taught Abraham was saved by his faith and his works showed he had the faith.

And that faith involved a work, did it not?

Works always come as a result not a condition of salvation.

And as I've asked many times and you've dodged from many times, what kind of works specifically does only a Saved person perform? This interpretation is clearly against what James says, that one is "justified BY works". "IT is not by faith alone that man is saved...." You have to severely twist what James says to get your interpretation and not read it at face value.

If we trusted Christ we will love God and others and so keep the law.

Read 1 John 5:3? If you don't obey the commandments, you don't love G-d. Simple as that.

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,"

The lukewarm will be of no use in the Kingdom and will be as castaways as far as that goes.

The Lukewarm are those who don't do good works.

Jesus said all who come to him I will in no wise cast out.

Oh really? Quote that verse. Where does Jesus say this exactly? Matthew 7:22-23 clearly goes against this.

But I've argued with you about all that before

Yes, and you've been disproven each time.

, and I'm gonna go now. Trust in Christ not in your own self-righteousness.

I trust that Christ will help guide me to righteous behavior that I may be worthy of the Kingdom.

Peace

I wish no peace for those who promote Lawlessness. Sorry.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

Y'all still haven't figured out that Jesus is God yet?

I've already proven more than once that he never said he was nor was it something he taught his followers.

I believe the Bible says Jesus is called Immanuel which means, "God with us".

And where in the NT was he ever called Immanuel/Emmanuel? No one, not even the angel who told Mary the name of her child, addressed him by that title.

He is God Incarnate, that is, God in the flesh who came here to die for me and you.

Ludicrous. Surely your "God", who is said to exist outside of space and time and is the creator of space and time as well as all that exist within space and time....does not need to become that which it created in order to save it.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

If you look through the posts, there have been some very good defenses with many reasons why Jesus is God.

No there hasn't and any attempts have been refuted.

 

[starlite]

From the Scriptures we can learn that Jesus never claimed to be God. He said he was going away to his Father and that his Father was greater than he.

(John 14:28) YOU heard that I said to YOU, I am going away and I am coming [back] to YOU. If YOU loved me, YOU would rejoice that I am going my way to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.

(Hebrews 7:7) Now without any dispute, the less is blessed by the greater.

Although existing in the spirit form like God he never said he was God or equal to God.

(Philippians 2:5-6) Keep this mental attitude in YOU that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.

Jesus was "given" power, he didn't already have power.

(Daniel 7:13-14) “I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and, see there! with the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. 14 And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.

Jesus learned from his Father. He was taught.

(John 5:19) Therefore, in answer, Jesus went on to say to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, The Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

(John 8:28) Therefore Jesus said: “When once YOU have lifted up the Son of man, then YOU will know that I am [he], and that I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me I speak these things.

Jesus was one with his Father in thought and purpose. Likewise, Jesus was one with his disciples in thought and purpose.

(John 17:21-22) in order that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that the world may believe that you sent me forth. 22 Also, I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one.

Jesus always prayed to his Father. He never said prayers should be directed to him.

(Matthew 6:9-10) “YOU must pray, then, this way: “‘Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. 10 Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also upon earth.

Jesus directed us to pray in his name, not to him.

(John 14:6) Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

(John 14:14) If YOU ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus is the mediator between God and man. A mediator is someone separate from those who need mediation.

(1 Timothy 2:5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus,

Once back in heaven, Jesus sat at God's right hand.

(Acts2:34-35) . . .‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet.”. . .

(John 17:5) . . .So now you, Father, glorify me alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.

Jesus even hands the kingdom back over to his Father.

(1Corinthians15:24-28) . . .Next, the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power. 25 For he must rule as king until [God] has put all enemies under his feet. 26 As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing. 27 For [God] “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that it is with the exception of the one who subjected all things to him. 28 But when all things will have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone.

 

[javajo]

No there hasn't and any attempts have been refuted.

Your opinion. Christ's Deity is taught in the Bible and has been taught by Biblical Christianity through the ages.

Titus and Ephesians are not only considered spurious by nearly all biblical scholars, they directly clash with James.

I believe the whole Bible.

There is no 'a" in Greek, but the concept is implied. Otherwise, take out all the a's in your translation and see how that looks. Why do you suppose there are any a's to begin with then? You simply don't understand how the Anarthrous works. Examine Acts 12:22, which uses the same Anarthrous Theos. We have gone round and round with this, and have proved it many times that it should read, the word was "a god". As you can see, an anarthrous Theos means "A god". Why is it a waste of time exactly? You make a claim, back your claim. It's not a waste of time to back your claim. Maybe to a Trinitarian it is.

There is only one God. Almost every translation says the Word was God.

So like I said, your view completely ignores pretty much everything Jesus taught as well as James and Jude and proves my case that Paul clashes with them, and your view also uses spurious books like Ephesians. You're right, I do ignore what PAUL teaches, but you ignore all the vast swaths of what Jesus himself teaches. You use nothing BUT Paul to base your beliefs on, and James clearly says that a "man is justified BY works'. There's no way you can possibly interpret that to mean that works are a result of being saved, he is clearly saying that one is justified BY, key word BY their works. Simple.

I believe the whole Bible and understand scripture in light of all the scripture.

And as I've asked many times and you've dodged from many times, what kind of works specifically does only a Saved person perform?

I have answered that. I do good works, not out of guilt, obligation or fear of punishment, but out of love for him who first loved me and died for me, because I am set free and deeply loved, I love others. Any kindness to others out of love is a good work and includes thousands and thousands of different deeds.

This interpretation is clearly against what James says, that one is "justified BY works". "IT is not by faith alone that man is saved...." You have to severely twist what James says to get your interpretation and not read it at face value.

James said that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. He said that if a man SAY he has faith but has no works, he does not have faith but is only SAYING he does. One who has faith will have works as a result. Faith comes first and we are saved by faith in Christ, works follow as a result.

Read 1 John 5:3? If you don't obey the commandments, you don't love G-d. Simple as that.

And his commands are to believe in Him whom He has sent, and to love God and each other. Only believers can do the last two.

The Lukewarm are those who don't do good works.

They were rich folks who lost their passion and zeal for God and for spreading the Gospel of Grace.

Oh really? Quote that verse. Where does Jesus say this exactly? Matthew 7:22-23 clearly goes against this.

John 6:37: All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Those in Mathew 7 were trying to get in by their good works instead of faith in Christ.

I trust that Christ will help guide me to righteous behavior that I may be worthy of the Kingdom.

Christ is my righteousness and because I trusted in him and his finished work on the cross to have paid my sin-debt, he now works in me and conforms me to his image.

I wish no peace for those who promote Lawlessness. Sorry.

Me neither.

 

[blueman]

There have been sufficient evidence through scripture as Muffled pointed out at the beginning of the post that not only references Jesus claiming He was God, but also to His diety. You have to ask yourself the question that if this was not the case, then why did the religious leaders seek to have Him put to death and what was the charge? They clearly understood that what He was claiming in their eyes was blasphemous and there was no other recourse but to crucify Him.

Now if they saw this as clear as day, why can't some of you who dispute that He was even referring to Himself as God in the flesh?

 

[javajo]

I've already proven more than once that he never said he was nor was it something he taught his followers.

Not to me.

And where in the NT was he ever called Immanuel/Emmanuel? No one, not even the angel who told Mary the name of her child, addressed him by that title.

My Bible says:
21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

If you really study the Bible you will see Jesus is God who died for us and all who trust him are freely saved. We call Jesus God Incarnate or God with us, Emmanuel.

Ludicrous. Surely your "God", who is said to exist outside of space and time and is the creator of space and time as well as all that exist within space and time....does not need to become that which it created in order to save it.

Ah, so you do not even believe in God, or that he died for us. You don't believe the Bible and you don't accept Christ as your Savior. I believe God did have to die for us because only he could live a sinless life, only he is infinite and could suffer a finite amount of time for us finite humans whose sins are infinitely offensive to an infinitely holy God. God also made a covenant with Abraham and passed between the sacrifices by himself, so when we did not keep our part, he alone came to fulfill the Law and die for our sins. There is no other who has paid for our sins and no other way to be saved than by trusting in Christ. Those who trust Christ are saved, those who reject him are lost. That is my belief from the Bible and what Biblical Christianity firmly teaches.

 

[blueman]

I've already proven more than once that he never said he was nor was it something he taught his followers.



And where in the NT was he ever called Immanuel/Emmanuel? No one, not even the angel who told Mary the name of her child, addressed him by that title.



Ludicrous. Surely your "God", who is said to exist outside of space and time and is the creator of space and time as well as all that exist within space and time....does not need to become that which it created in order to save it.

So a Sovereign God cannot choose to redeem the world the way He sees fit? You drastically disregard His Sovereignty which is as you say, ludicrous!

 

[javajo]

Abraham's Faith Made Him Right With God

1 What should we say about those things? What did our father Abraham discover about being right with God? 2 Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn't brag to God. 3 What do we find in Scripture? It says, "Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham's faith, and so his faith made him right with God."—(Genesis 15:6) 4 When a man works, his pay is not considered a gift. It is owed to him. 5 But things are different with God. He makes evil people right with himself. If people trust in him, their faith is accepted even though they do not work. Their faith makes them right with God.
6 King David says the same thing. He tells us how blessed some people are. God makes those people right with himself. But they don't have to do anything in return...Romans 4

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal. 2

Shermana, when you balance scripture with scripture you see we are saved by faith not by works, but works will follow as a result as Eph. 2:8-10 and Titus 3:4-8 clearly teach.

 

[Shermana]

Why would the name Immanuel mean the person named such IS G-d, it merely means "God is with us". Ezekiel means "God strengthens", does that mean Ezekiel was G-d too?

 

[javajo]

Why would the name Immanuel mean the person named such IS G-d, it merely means "God is with us". Ezekiel means "God strengthens", does that mean Ezekiel was G-d too?

It means God with us. Its his name. He is God.

 

[blueman]

Why would the name Immanuel mean the person named such IS G-d, it merely means "God is with us". Ezekiel means "God strengthens", does that mean Ezekiel was G-d too?

Totally different in reference to interpretations. That is just one reference to Jesus that identifies His diety and equal nature with God The Father. When you compare the totality of Jesus' life, death and ressurection, you have to acknowledge there is something special about Jesus. We can't say the same about Ezekial, who was a messenger (prophet) of God, whom "God strengthened". Jesus is God. No comparison.